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cnbc.com
Iran's Shahed drone: How 'the poor man’s cruise missile’ is shaping Tehran’s retaliation
After years on the front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Iranian Shahed-136 drone is at the center of Tehran's retaliation against recent U.S. strikes.
cnbc.com
Anthropic and the Pentagon are back at the negotiating table, FT reports
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is reportedly back at the negotiating table with the U.S. Department of Defense after the breakdown of talks on Friday.
cnbc.com
NATO members feel the heat from the Iran war, but the bar for the bloc to act is high
NATO's members with assets within firing range of Iran, are feeling the heat from the escalating war in the Middle East.
bbc.com
South East Water faces £22m fine for supply failures
The firm was unable to cope during high demand, Ofwat says, leading to "immense stress" for customers.
theguardian.com
Wizz Air issues profits warning due to Middle East crisis; oil and gas prices rising again – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsMiddle East crisis live: Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran; Iran claims to have targeted Kurdish groups in IraqGlobalisation is under threat from Iran war – and Britain is uniquely vulnerableEuropean markets have dipped in early trading, as the recovery in Asia-Pacific markets fails to ripple round to Europe.The pan-European Stoxx 600 index is down 0.3%, with losses in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid and London. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets higher as Iran war continues to unsettles traders
European stocks were higher on Thursday as markets followed unsettling geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
bbc.com
Nearly 4m Londoners below income for decent living
Analysis shows that most private renters live with less than what is needed for day-to-day life.
cnbc.com
Spain rejects White House claim it agreed to cooperate with U.S. forces amid Iran war
The White House says Spain will now cooperate with the U.S. militarily over the Iran conflict. Madrid swiftly rejected this claim.
theguardian.com
'Gringo go home': Mexico’s growing tourism backlash – video
Tourism in Mexico is at an all-time high, with foreign visitors lured by the country’s rich culture and low costs. The Guardian visits Oaxaca, a state synonymous with indigenous culture, where tourism has grown 77% since the pandemic and once private family rituals such as the Day of the Dead are now big international parties. But with this opportunity comes a growing backlash across the country, as local people struggle with a cost of living crisis that is exacerbated by the tourism industry’s exponential growth Continue reading...
cnbc.com
BYD sales plunge in first two months of 2026 as EV giant loses more ground to competitors
BYD lost ground to its domestic competitors over the first two months of 2026, as overall demand in China's electric vehicle market slowed.
theguardian.com
Globalisation is under threat from Iran war – and Britain is uniquely vulnerable
Economic ripples from US-Israel attacks will soon become waves, engulfing everything from energy prices to foodIn retaliation for the US-Israeli missile attacks, Iran has launched what amounts to all-out economic warfare. Should the conflict continue even for another week, its impacts will start to be felt around the world as the third price surge since the pandemic washes through global markets.For Britain, a further turn of the screw on living standards arrives just as political instability mounts at home, with the Labour and Conservative parties facing existential challenges to their left and right. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
South East Water fined £22.5m for ‘repeated supply failures’ in Kent and Sussex
Regulator says failures that hit nearly 300,000 customers made worse by utility’s failure to maintain efficient supply systemBusiness live – latest updatesSouth East Water has been fined £22.5m by Ofwat for repeated supply failures in Kent and Sussex between 2020 and 2023 that affected more than 280,000 people.While the root cause of the water shortages was extreme weather, the water regulator for England and Wales found that they were “in part attributable to and/or exacerbated by failures by South East Water itself to develop and maintain an efficient water supply system”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
China sets its lowest annual growth target on record at 4.5% to 5% as deflation and tariffs bite
That marks a slight downgrade from the "around 5%" target set in the past three years.
theguardian.com
Cost of living Q&A: post your questions for money expert Hilary Osborne now
This week’s events in the Middle East have sent stock markets plummeting and energy prices soaring. What does this latest economic shock mean for your own finances – from the cost of everyday items to interest rates and investments? Post your personal finance questions for the Guardian’s money and consumer editor nowIn a week where Rachel Reeves had hoped to confirm a period of economic stability in Tuesday’s spring statement, global events once more overtaken the government’s best laid plans. The US and Israel’s war on Iran has has shaken global markets and caused huge fears about energy prices and the impact they will have on inflation and the cost of living.Hilary Osborne is the Guardian’s money and consumer editor and will be answering questions about wider economic fallout – and any others you might have – live from 1pm GMT here. Please post your questions and discuss the subject below.From petrol to groceries: how Middle East crisis is driving up pricesWizz Air issues profits warning due to Middle East crisis; oil and gas prices rising again – business live Continue reading...
bbc.com
Gas price cut for some Firmus Energy customers
Gas prices in the Ten Towns area will fall by just over 10% in April.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Tremors spread globally as Middle East conflict rages on
France updated its nuclear deterrence policy in 30 years, while India has to contend with the possibility of a dent in its remittance flows.
cnbc.com
Investors poured billions into private credit. Now many want their money back
Recent redemptions in private credit expose the tensions between high returns and retail liquidity.
cnbc.com
South Korea’s Kospi rebounds to clock its best day since 2008, soaring 10%
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Thursday, rebounding after several days of steep losses.
cnbc.com
Emmanuel Macron spelled out a pivot in France's nuclear strategy. Here's why it's so significant
The French president spelled out a new doctrine of 'forward deterrence' for France. Here's
theguardian.com
‘A big burden for farmers’: Gulf shipping crisis threatens food price shock
Iranian blockade of the strategic strait of Hormuz is hitting global fertiliser supply chainThe global fertiliser supply chain could face significant disruption if the effective closure by Iran of the strait of Hormuz persists, prompting concerns from analysts about crop production and food security.Passage through the waterway, located off Iran’s southern coast, has mostly stopped since the US and Israel launched their attacks at the weekend. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Energy, airlines and now over $50 billion in remittances to India at risk as Middle East conflict deepens
India can't seem to escape from the fallout of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. After energy and aviation, remittances could be the latest worry.
bbc.com
China sets lowest economic growth target since 1991
It is also the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to "around 5%" in 2023.
cnbc.com
Bessent says global 15% tariff starts this week, predicts Trump duties will return to old levels later this year
The Supreme Court last month ruled that President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs are not authorized under the law known as IEEPA.
bbc.com
Musk tells jury 'people read too much' into his posts
The billionaire is accused of misleading investors in the run-up to his 2022 Twitter purchase.
cnbc.com
China to boost defense spending by 7%, slowest pace since 2021
Beijing's planned military budget comes amid escalating conflict in the Middle East and persistent tensions over Taiwan.
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
cnbc.com
Amazon's Bahrain data center targeted by Iran for support of U.S. military, state media says
Amazon said the Bahrain facility was damaged due to a nearby drone strike, and two data centers in the UAE were directly hit by drones.
cnbc.com
Broadcom beats on earnings and guidance as AI revenue doubles
Broadcom's AI revenue jumped 106% as the company continues to be a big beneficiary of the boom in infrastructure spending.
bbc.com
Higher tariffs likely this week, says US Treasury
Scott Bessent says that "likely sometime this week" the US will increase its global tariff on imports from the existing 10%.
cnbc.com
Tech industry group expresses 'concern' to Pete Hegseth over supply chain risk label
The Information Technology Industry Council's letter doesn't name Anthropic, but lands days after the AI company was designated a supply chain risk.
cnbc.com
South Korea stocks crashed 18% in two days. Could it happen here?
Wall Street doesn't see the quick slump in Korean stocks as a harbinger for anything to come in the U.S.
cnbc.com
Epstein files: House committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi
Attorney General Pam Bondi "claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not," Rep. Nancy Mace said in a post on X.
cnbc.com
Nvidia CEO Huang says $30 billion OpenAI investment 'might be the last'
Huang also mentioned that Nvidia's $10 billion investment in OpenAI rival Anthropic would likely be its last.
cnbc.com
U.S. crude oil surge eases after Bessent pledges support for tankers during Iran war
The oil market has calmed after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would insure tankers and provide naval escorts if necessary.
cnbc.com
Apple announces MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop ever
Apple’s new MacBook Neo gives the company its cheapest laptop ever, creating a budget entry into the Mac lineup.
cnbc.com
Trump sides with crypto firms in trillion-dollar battle with banks over stablecoin yield
The dispute centers on whether crypto firms like Coinbase can offer yields on stablecoins, which banks warn will siphon trillions of dollars from the industry.
bbc.com
Stock markets and oil prices still volatile over fears Iran war may drag on
Experts have warned that if oil and gas prices remains elevated it could make goods and services more expensive.
bbc.com
Father claims Google's AI product fuelled son's delusional spiral
The case is the first wrongful death case against Google over alleged harms caused by Gemini.
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves should scrap the North Sea windfall tax now
The UK should optimise North Sea oil and gas production while it transfers to renewables and nuclear developmentsThe chancellor’s failure to reform or remove the energy profits levy (EPL) – AKA the North Sea windfall tax – in her spring forecast was a case of “political expediency and more to do with putting one byelection result before the economic needs of the country”. Who said that? Some Tory or Reform politician being opportunist as war in Iran puts the UK’s energy import dependency in the spotlight?Actually, no, it was the general secretary of the GMB union, Gary Smith, on Wednesday, demonstrating once again that views on the North Sea oil and gas do not fit neatly into a left-right divide. He has been making the principled case for an orderly transition in energy for ages, warning that decarbonising via deindustrialising costs jobs and will end up pushing voters rightwards. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the US-UK relationship: Trump is pushing Britain closer to Europe | Editorial
An unreliable and volatile American president makes a compelling case for closer security and defence cooperation with continental alliesThere is truth to Donald Trump’s declaration earlier this week that the UK-US relationship is “not what it was”, although there is no indication that he understands the reasons for the change.The US president is “very disappointed” that Sir Keir Starmer has been “uncooperative” in the war against Iran, offering only limited logistical support to American forces. The prime minister’s concession that RAF resources can be involved in defensive operations does not compensate for the prior refusal to put Britain’s military assets at American disposal. It came too late for Mr Trump, whose irritation turned to culture-war jibes about “windmills” ruining British landscapes and a false claim about the prevalence of sharia courts.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How will war in the Middle East affect your finances?
The surge in energy prices could fuel higher inflation and raise interest rates, threatening a new UK cost of living crisisWar in Middle East ‘could wipe out growth in UK living standards’The war in the Middle East is thousands of miles away, but gyrations in financial markets and surging energy prices threaten a new cost of living crisis in the UK.Here is how it could affect your finances. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy bills could rise by £160 after Iran conflict pushes gas prices higher
Household costs could reach £1,800 a year from July as UK market hits three-year highMiddle East crisis – live updatesHousehold energy bills could climb by £160 a year from this summer after the war in Iran pushed the UK’s gas market to a three-year high.A typical combined household gas and electricity bill could reach £1,800 a year in Great Britain under the government’s quarterly price cap from July, according to analysis by Cornwall Insight, an energy consultancy. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The posh egg problem: how they became a status symbol – and shoplifting target
Pretty coloured eggs from fancy breeds can now cost as much as £4.50 for half a dozen. But some people have found a sneaky way to avoid paying a premiumName: Posh eggs.Age: Best before three weeks from now. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How the US-Israeli war on Iran created a massive hole in global airspace
Airlines are using long-readied contingency plans but bottlenecks have formed that no amount of planning can fixMiddle East crisis – live updatesA war engulfing the Middle East has cleared the region’s skies, forcing airlines to make drastic rerouting plans and leaving a massive void in usually busy global airspace.With Israel and the US bombing Iran day after day – and Tehran responding with waves of missiles and drones attacks – airlines have been forced to divert their passenger jets away from the Gulf or risk a catastrophic accident. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
European Commission proposes ‘Buy EU’ plan to compete against China
Plan, which aims to preserve jobs in clean tech and low-carbon sectors, could include UK if there is reciprocal market accessThe European Commission has proposed a “Buy EU” plan to boost domestic low-carbon industries and help the continent compete against China.The commission published a draft regulation – called the Industrial Accelerator Act – on Wednesday, setting demands for EU-made and low-carbon content on bodies spending public money. The rules mark a big shift in economic thinking from Brussels, long a bastion of open markets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
South West Water admits criminal offence over Devon parasite outbreak
Firm admits supplying water unfit for human consumption after nearly 150 people fell ill A major utility company has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasite outbreak in Devon made almost 150 people sick.South West Water (SWW) pleaded guilty to the criminal offence relating to the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham, Devon, which affected 2,500 homes. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why are UK prices still rising?
UK Inflation has dropped back from record highs but remains above the Bank of England's 2% target.
bbc.com
Will petrol and diesel prices go up now?
If oil prices remain high for some time, the knock-on effects could affect the costs of fuel and food
theguardian.com
Syngenta says it will stop making pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease
Company will halt production of controversial paraquat weed killer by end of June as it faces thousands of lawsuitsSyngenta, maker of a controversial pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease, said on Tuesday that it would stop making its paraquat weed killer by the end of June.The announcement comes as the company is facing several thousand lawsuits brought by people in the US who allege they developed Parkinson’s disease due to their exposure to Syngenta’s paraquat products. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Goldman's David Solomon surprised by ‘benign’ market reaction to Iran war
"I think it's going to take a couple of weeks for markets to really digest the implications of what's happened," Goldman chief David Solomon said.
bbc.com
Remote work, offices shut: Tech giants scramble to respond as Iran war escalates
The region has been positioning itself as an AI hub, following billions of dollars in investment by tech giants.
theguardian.com
Europe’s next-generation fighter jet project may collapse if row continues, says warplane maker
Dassault Aviation says €100bn project may soon be ‘dead’ if Airbus will not agree on how to share workloadFrance and Germany’s next-generation fighter jet project could soon be “dead”, one of the two companies tasked with delivering it has warned, amid a worsening corporate rift over who gets to build the aircraft.Dassault Aviation, France’s leading warplane maker, said Airbus’s defence arm – which represents Germany and Spain – needed to cooperate on the €100bn programme otherwise it would collapse. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From petrol to groceries: how Middle East crisis is driving up prices
Global supply chains are disrupted and prices are rising across sectors amid warnings worse is to come if conflict persistsMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesWhat we know on day five of the Iran warThe conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global supply chains and triggered price rises across a range of categories, prompting accusations of price gouging and warnings of worse to come if the conflict persists.Here we take a look at the impact so far. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Small investors turn on James Watt after BrewDog co-founder admits ‘many mistakes’
Watt apologises to 200,000-plus ‘equity punks’ who joined crowdfunding rounds but were left empty-handed after cut-price saleThe co-founder of BrewDog, James Watt, met with short shrift from small investors who have been left empty-handed by the company’s sale for just £33m, after he admitted to “many mistakes”.Watt issued a mea culpa via the professional social networking site LinkedIn, a platform he has regularly used to espouse political views, including complaints about the level of tax he is asked to pay. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Google faces lawsuit after Gemini chatbot allegedly instructed man to kill himself
Lawsuit is first wrongful death case brought against Google over flagship AI product after death of Jonathan GavalasSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxLast August, Jonathan Gavalas became entirely consumed with his Google Gemini chatbot. The 36-year-old Florida resident had started casually using the artificial intelligence tool earlier that month to help with writing and shopping. Then Google introduced its Gemini Live AI assistant, which included voice-based chats that had the capability to detect people’s emotions and respond in a more human-like way.“Holy shit, this is kind of creepy,” Gavalas told the chatbot the night the feature debuted, according to court documents. “You’re way too real.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates still expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
theguardian.com
X to ban users from earning revenue if they post unlabelled AI-generated war videos
Social media feeds have been flooded with fake battle scenes since start of Iran conflictElon Musk’s X will ban users from making money on the platform if they repeatedly post unlabelled AI-generated war videos, after social media feeds were flooded with fake battle scenes from the Iran conflict.The social media platform, which has about half a billion monthly active users, will suspend people from earning revenue from posts for 90 days if they put up AI-generated videos of an armed conflict without adding a disclosure that it was made with AI. A second infraction wouldlead to a permanent ban, it said on Tuesday night, after the first days of the conflict in Iran were marked by a torrent of bogus online footage. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UAE stocks sell off as markets reopen from two-day closure after Iranian strikes
Exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were closed for two days after Iran launched a wave of strikes on the Gulf nation.
cnbc.com
'No to war’: Spain PM hits back at Trump threat to cut trade over air base dispute
His comments come after the U.S. president pledged to cut off all trade with Madrid over its position on the Iran conflict.
theguardian.com
Trump’s new tariffs may boost his ego – but they’ll damage the economy | Steven Greenhouse
The US president’s plan will hurt consumers, companies and the stock market, as well as relations with other countriesAfter the US supreme court overturned Donald Trump’s global tariffs, he had two options: do what’s best for the US economy or do what’s best for his ego. Trump of course chose what’s best for his ego, and he did that by seizing on a never previously used legal provision to impose new tariffs that Trump – who can never admit defeat – insists will be just as good as the overturned tariffs.Unfortunately, Trump’s decision to create a whole new set of tariffs will be bad for both the US economy and the world economy. When one cuts through Trump’s delusional poppycock about how great his new tariffs will be, it becomes clear that his new 15% across-the-board tariff will hurt consumers, corporations, factories, US trading partners and Trump’s beloved stock market. While Trump says “tariffs” is “the most beautiful word”, economists, business executives and consumers give Trump’s tariffs a thumbs down. A huge 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs, according to a new ABC News/WashingtonPost/Ipsos poll. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Brewdog founder admits 'many mistakes' as hundreds lose jobs in sale
James Watt apologises to staff and investors after hundreds of jobs were lost with the sale of the brewer and pub chain.
theguardian.com
Nvidia and UK Wealth Fund invest in British autonomous driving startup Oxa
Oxford-based firm has raised $103m for commercial development of software for self-driving industrial vehiclesNvidia is investing in the British autonomous driving startup Oxa, alongside backing from the UK’s National Wealth Fund, in a boost to the country’s technology sector.The Oxford-based company, which has developed software for self-driving industrial vehicles, said it had raised $103m (£77m) from investors to focus on commercial solutions for that software, as well as its physical AI and robotics technology, and to push on with its global expansion plans. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK supermarket chain Iceland drops trademark dispute with Iceland
Company promises ‘rapprochement discount’ for shoppers from country after decade-long action in EU courtThe UK supermarket chain Iceland has abandoned its decade-long trademark battle with Iceland and instead promised a “rapprochement discount” for shoppers in the country.After the budget grocery chain suffered its third legal loss last year, its executive chair, Richard Walker, said on Wednesday that it would draw a line under the dispute. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
£25 for a cookie? What the baffling luxury bakery boom tells us about Britain
Amid a cost of living crisis, pricey patisserie is all the rage – and not just in London. Our reporter goes on a crawl to find out if a tart can really be worth £45There was a time when you could get a stuffed vanilla cream slice or a neon-pink Tottenham cake for about £1 on the leafy, residential corner of Hackney, east London, where I stand today. But the branch of Percy Ingle bakery that was here for nearly 50 years is gone. In its place sits Fika, a cafe where a cinnamon bun costs £4.20 and a pistachio croissant will set you back nearly £5.In comparison with other bakeries, however, Fika’s pastries are a bargain. At Copains, a Parisian favourite that opened its first UK branch in central London late last year, a large babka (about the same size as a supermarket chocolate twist) will set you back £12.50, while an eclair costs £11.90. In Harrods’ food hall, a stuffed, savoury croissant topped with gold leaf is £12. At Cedric Grolet, located inside the luxury Berkeley hotel, a hazelnut cookie will leave you £25 out of pocket. Yes, the age of the £10-plus pastry has arrived. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Quit ChatGPT: right now! Your subscription is bankrolling authoritarianism | Rutger Bregman
As a historian, I’ve studied the major consumer boycotts of history. We can take down ChatGPT and send a powerful signal to Silicon ValleyOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is on track to lose $14bn this year. Its market share is collapsing, and its own CEO, Sam Altman, has admitted it “screwed up” an element of the product. All it takes to accelerate that decline is 10 seconds of your time.A grassroots boycott called QuitGPT has been spreading across the US and beyond, asking people to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions. More than a million people have answered the call. Mark Ruffalo and Katy Perry have thrown their weight behind it. It is one of the most significant consumer boycotts in recent memory, and I believe it’s time for Europeans to join. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I fiddled the meter for a mate and the shop burnt down'
A BBC investigation speaks to electricians and families setting up illegal meter bypasses to steal power.
cnbc.com
Middle East conflict poses fresh test to central banks as oil shock fuels inflation
Middle East conflict has posed a fresh test to central banks, with fears of an oil shock and renewed inflation risks changing their bid to shore up growth.
cnbc.com
CNBC's China Connection newsletter: New AI players think global from day one
Chinese startups rush to launch AI tools for overseas markets.
cnbc.com
I was on an Emirates flight to Dubai that turned around twice because of Iranian missiles
CNBC's Emma Graham flew home to the UAE on an Emirates flight that turned around just 30 minutes from Dubai because of an Iran missile threat.
bbc.com
Use our tax calculator to see how Spring Statement forecasts may affect you
Wages are forecast to go up over the next five years but you could pay more tax because of frozen thresholds.
theguardian.com
Flagship Harry Potter store to open on London’s Oxford Street
British outlet for the Hogwarts-adjacent ‘interactive retail experience’ will include ‘photo moments’ and exclusive merchandiseWarner Bros has announced it is to open a 21,000 sq ft Harry Potter store on Oxford Street, one of London’s busiest retail thoroughfares.The studio’s Global Experiences wing says the two-floor shop will be an “interactive retail experience” including recreations of the franchise’s most recognisable locations, as well as “photo moments” and exclusive merchandise. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump says US Navy will protect ships in Middle East 'if necessary'
The US President said he was taking steps to keep energy supplies flowing as oil and gas prices continued to surge.
bbc.com
Gas and oil prices soar and shares tumble on fears conflict could escalate
Markets react as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies and concerns grow over how long it will last.
bbc.com
Trump threatens to halt trade with Spain over military base access
Trump lashed out after Spain barred the US from using its military bases to carry out strikes on Iran.
bbc.com
OpenAI changes deal with US military after backlash
Chief Executive Sam Altman said the group would prohibit the use of its systems to spy on Americans.
theguardian.com
‘It’s no news just when we wanted some’: bosses react to spring statement
Amid global volatility, Rachel Reeves tried to project calm with a low-key forecast. But business owners have their doubtsRachel Reeves gave a deliberately low-key spring forecast on Tuesday, in an attempt to project calm amid volatility abroad and after repeated tax rising budgets.But for some business owners struggling with rising costs, a lack of policy announcements this time around was a disappointment. Continue reading...
bbc.com
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
We look at the different circumstances that affect you if you're due a refund for cancelled or delayed flights.
bbc.com
Reeves says her plan is working as growth forecast cut for this year
The forecasts were made before the conflict in the Middle East broke out which could have a "very significant" impact, the OBR said.
theguardian.com
Reeves’s talk of stability may be misplaced amid Iran war turmoil
Attempt to project calm in spring forecast may be short-lived if living costs and unemployment keep climbingReeves insists Labour has ‘right economic plan’Business live – latest updates“This government has restored economic stability,” Rachel Reeves told the House of Commons on Tuesday.Yet the chancellor was speaking just moments after MPs had been hearing from the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, about plans to evacuate British nationals from the escalating conflagration in the Middle East. Continue reading...
bbc.com
No new tax rises in Spring Statement, but don't be fooled - tax bills are still rising
There are measures, announced ahead of the chancellor's Spring Statement, yet to take effect.
bbc.com
What Spring Statement forecasts could mean for your money
Among the data and projections are key figures that shine a light on prospects for your finances.
theguardian.com
‘I’m concerned the Iran war might drive up living costs’: Britons respond to Reeves’s spring forecast
The chancellor’s statement offered little new on tax or spending, but readers voiced concerns about rising costsBusiness live – latest updatesAction to tackle student loan debt, clarity about what the Middle East crisis will mean for the UK economy, cheaper borrowing, more scrutiny of supermarket prices … Readers who took part in a Guardian callout before the spring forecast had plenty of things on their wishlists.In the event there were no major tax or spending measures announced, and some were concerned about whether the US-Israeli war on Iran will scupper Rachel Reeves’s plan to put “more money in the pockets of working people”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Spring Statement 2026: Key points at a glance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves updates MPs on her plans for the economy, as the latest forecasts are unveiled.
bbc.com
'I make between £800 and £2,000 a month on zero-hours contracts. There's no consistency'
People in their 20s and 30s tell the BBC how they feel about their finances as the chancellor delivers her Spring Statement.
theguardian.com
Historic harvests and sky-high prices – so why can’t Colombia’s coffee-growers hire pickers?
Though coffee is one of the world’s most important commodities, little of the profit trickles down to the farmers, while workers are abandoning the countryside in search of more lucrative jobs in the cityMary Luz Pérez Arrubla and her brother, Rodrigo, are fourth-generation farmers cultivating coffee on steep Andean slopes near the town of Líbano, in the rich agricultural region of Tolima. Along with the rest of Colombia, the family has enjoyed a historic harvest amid surging global coffee prices, which hit record highs for the second year in a row in 2025.Severe US tariffs imposed on Brazil and Vietnam, – the world’s two largest coffee producers – as well as poor harvests there, helped drive the surge. Both countries were hurt by the El Niño phenomenon, a cyclical weather pattern characterised by dry spells and aggravated by the climate crisis. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Treat us fairly’: skilled workers face having their dream of settling in UK snatched away
As government mulls doubling requirement to 10 years, the uncertainty is putting many who came to Britain to work under strainThey came to the UK to build better lives for their families and to work and contribute to British society. And they came with the promise that, after five years of playing by the rules, they would have the chance to get settled status.Now, many on the skilled worker visa – some of them only months from reaching that milestone – face having it snatched away from them under government plans to retroactively double the baseline period qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain to 10 years; plans they say amount to changing the rules of the game while the ball is in play. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Where the magic really happens’: the influencers out to celebrate – and save – Britain’s ‘proper boozers’
With more than 350 establishments closing last year, social media accounts such as Proper Boozers and London Dead Pubs have rallied to fight their sticky-carpeted corner – and bring the ‘old-man pub’ a new clienteleThe Calthorpe Arms on Gray’s Inn Road is a fairly atypical central London pub. With patterned red carpets, brass fittings, leather bar stools, a pool table and Christmas tinsel still hanging in early February, it feels very much a “local”, although on a Thursday evening it’s busy with the post-work crowd.It’s the fifth time Niall Walsh, who works nearby and runs the Proper Boozers Instagram account, has visited in recent months. “It’s just off the beaten track, but easy to get to,” Walsh says over a pint of Harvey’s. “You can get a real, authentic pub experience.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Overdrawn, underpaid and over it: how four people conquered their debt mountains
It’s easy to let your credit card balance mount up – and hard to admit you have a problem. But help is at hand. We talk to four people who worked their way back into the blackAbbie Marton Bell, a National Debtline adviser, is often the first person her clients will speak to about their debt, after years of carrying the weight of their financial worries alone. Most of the time, they haven’t even told their partner or family, she says, and “you can literally hear the relief in their voice”.Debt carries a lot of shame, but it’s more common than people might think. In the UK, 84% of adults had some form of credit or loan in the year leading up to May 2024. The average household holds about £2,700 in credit card debt, and it’s only getting worse. Borrowing has been rising at its fastest rate for almost two years, with those hit hardest by the cost of living crisis increasingly using credit to pay for essentials. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Wales' richest man says Britain is 'uncomfortable place' for Jews
The billionaire says "anti-semitism is always in the air" with parallels to the persecution his ancestors faced.
theguardian.com
I paid off my mortgage – so why did my credit score plummet?
Paying off a loan can sometimes spook the algorithms that people’s calculate creditworthinessMy credit score dropped from well above average to well below average after I paid off my mortgage. As well as bizarre, it’s yet another example of how our lives are affected by arbitrary decisions made by faceless corporate giants.PB London Continue reading...
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Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.
theguardian.com
Does Trump want to wage an AI-powered war? – podcast
In the past three months, Donald Trump’s White House has reportedly used AI twice to effect regime change – once in its capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and more recently to help plan the strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The most recent strikes coincided with the end of the Pentagon’s relationship with the AI company Anthropic over concerns its AI tool Claude was being used for purposes the company had explicitly prohibited. The government swiftly signed a new contract with Open AI. To find out what this means for the use of AI in forthcoming conflicts, Madeleine Finlay speaks to technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker. He explains why he thinks this moment represents a dangerous turning point.Trump is using AI to fight his wars – this is a dangerous turning pointSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
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Amazon says drones damaged three facilities in UAE and Bahrain
The incidents highlight the vulnerability of key technology infrastructure during military conflicts.
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Limited flights leave UAE but disruption continues amid Iran strikes
The majority of flights to key Middle Eastern hubs have been cancelled for Monday as the conflict continues.
bbc.com
Bars close and hundreds lose jobs as US firm buys Brewdog in £33m deal
Beverage and cannabis company Tilray acquires the brewery, the brand and 11 bars after Brewdog went into administration.
theguardian.com
ScottishPower refuses to believe that my father has died
For months it has been adding to my mother’s distress when all she wanted was feed-in tariff payments go into her accountWhen my father died last year, nearly all the companies we had to notify were kind and empathetic, but not ScottishPower.It had been paying feed-in tariff (Fit) payments for electricity produced from my parents’ solar panels into his account. My parents had bought the panels jointly in 2011, and my mother is named on the certification and was ScottishPower’s main point of contact, so she thought it would be a simple matter for the payments to be switched to her bank account. It was not. Continue reading...
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Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.
bbc.com
UK launches consultation asking for views on under-16s social media ban
Discussions over what measures to implement to protect children's wellbeing will last for three months.
theguardian.com
‘Cleaning Superstore’: warning over missed delivery text scam on WhatsApp
The text mimics a common fraud, but differs in that criminals appear to have hacked a genuine business accountJohn the delivery driver has tried to drop off something at your home from a company called Cleaning Superstore but you missed him, according to the message you have received via WhatsApp.Although you cannot remember buying anything from the company, the text appears to have come from a legitimate WhatsApp account so you try to rearrange delivery by clicking the link provided. Continue reading...
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Edible Economics by Ha-Joon Chang (Omnibus)
Professor Ha-Joon Chang, “a hungry economist” explores why economics matters.
bbc.com
Rent tops £1,000 a month in more areas - find out where
The cost of renting privately has surged in the last five years, but tenants may now see a slowdown.
bbc.com
Why you should consider fixing your energy tariff now
Martin Lewis explains what the upcoming change to the energy price cap means for your bills.
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
bbc.com
'Is this all bad debt or good debt?'
Karen has not only left the family in emotional turmoil but also in serious debt.
theguardian.com
Send provision and student loans: will Labour’s changes backfire? – podcast
As the dust settles on the government’s landmark changes to children’s special educational needs and disabilities provision, what will their impact really be on young people, their families and schools? John Harris and Kiran Stacey look at what we know so far. And, a growing backlash from graduates over student loan payments, led by the influential consumer champion Martin Lewis, is causing a headache the government was not anticipating. Why did they overlook this and what changes could be made?Archive: ITV news, BBC Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Can degrowth save the climate? – podcast
Since the 1960s, global GDP has been rapidly rising and living standards have reached record highs. But something else has been rocketing up too – carbon emissions. For years, scientists and economists have been asking: is it possible to grow without heating and polluting the Earth? And as the climate becomes more unstable, the issue is only becoming more urgent. Madeleine Finlay hears from two economists arguing for a change in how we measure a country’s success. Nick Stern is professor of economics and government at the London School of Economics and an advocate of green growth, an approach to growth that prioritises green industry. Jason Hickel is a political economist and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona who advocates degrowth, shrinking parts of the economy that do not advance our social and ecological goals.Catch up with all the pieces in the Beyond Growth seriesSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
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The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
bbc.com
Martin Lewis on what the new energy price cap means
Typical household energy bills will fall by 7% in April, regulator Ofgem has announced, following a shake-up in charges by the government.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
Europe lags far behind the US and China in orbital space launches, but new facilities are opening up.
bbc.com
Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?
Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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